Two years ago, two students from the Westtown
School, motivated by community service and mitzvah projects
(mitzvah means “good deed”), worked together to start
the Kids Swim for the Cure swim-a-thon. In just two
years, Kids Swim for the Cure has raised nearly $17,000
for skin cancer research at the Abramson
Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The
money raised by these extraordinary students has not only supported
innovative research and patient care programs at the Abramson
Cancer Center, but has also increased public awareness and education
about skin
cancer – particularly melanoma – the
deadliest form of skin cancer.

This year’s event will be a day to celebrate these dedicated
young swimmers, while increasing support and awareness of skin
cancer.

PENN Medicine is a $2.9 billion enterprise dedicated
to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and
high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first
medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Penn's School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation for receipt
of NIH research funds; and ranked #3 in the nation in U.S. News &
World Report's most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools.
Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine
is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the
next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes three hospitals,
all of which have received numerous national patient-care honors [Hospital
of the University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first
hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center]; a faculty practice plan;
a primary-care provider network; two multispecialty satellite facilities;
and home care and hospice.